The Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers play Game 3 of the best-of-7 Eastern Conference Final series Saturday. The Panthers lead the series 2-0. Puck drop from FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Fla., is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (TNT). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Hurricanes vs. Panthers odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Hurricanes lost 2-1 in overtime in Game 2 Saturday. Carolina dropped each of the first 2 games on home ice as the series shifts to Florida. The Canes have lost 10 straight games in the Conference Final round.
D Jalen Chatfield scored his 1st career postseason goal just 1:43 into Game 2 and things were looking up after Carolina dropped the marathon 4 OT outing in Game 1. However, the Canes wouldn’t beat G Sergei Bobrovsky again.
C Aleksander Barkov posted a goal at 7:43 of the 2nd period to tie things up, and there were no more goals in regulation. The goal was his 10th career playoff goal, moving him into a tie for 2nd place on the franchise’s all-time list.
These teams went to OT yet again, and for the 2nd time in as many games, LW Matthew Tkachuk scored the game-winning goal.
The Panthers have won 5 games this postseason in OT on the road.
Hurricanes at Panthers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub Lines last updated at 8:02 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Hurricanes -110 (bet $110 to win $100) | Panthers -110 (bet $110 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Hurricanes +1.5 (-275) | Panthers -1.5 (+225)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Hurricanes at Panthers projected goalies
Frederik Andersen (21-11-1, 2.48 GAA, .903 SV% – regular season) vs. Sergei Bobrovsky (24-20-3, 3.07 GAA, .901 SV%, 1 SO – regular season)
Andersen was rested in Game 2 after his 4OT performance in Game 1. G Antti Raanta started Saturday, kicking aside 24 of the 26 shots he faced. Coach Rod Brind’Amour is expected to turn back to The Great Dane, who is 2-0 with a 2.45 GAA and .912 SV% in 3 road playoff starts.
Bobrovsky stopped 37 of the 38 shots he faced in Game 2 as he improved to 9-2 with a 2.32 GAA and .931 SV% in these playoffs — including 5-0 in games that have gone into overtime. His win total, GAA and SV% each represent career bests in the postseason.
Hurricanes at Panthers picks and predictions
Prediction
Hurricanes 3, Panthers 2
Moneyline
The HURRICANES (-110) have fallen into an untenable position, down 0-2 in the series after losing the first 2 games on home ice. Home-ice advantage hasn’t been terribly meaningful in these playoffs so far and I expect that to continue Monday as Carolina has its collective backs against the wall.
Look for the Canes to come out with plenty of urgency, grinding out a win in another low-scoring affair.
Puck line/Against the spread
The Hurricanes +1.5 (-275) will cost you nearly 3 times your potential return for an insurance goal, and that’s too much risk for not enough reward. While each of the first 2 games went overtime, there isn’t nearly enough value to play Carolina on the puck line.
PASS.
Over/Under
The UNDER 5.5 (-110) is a strong play in Game 3.
Carolina was on fire offensively in the New Jersey series, but the Under has cashed in the first 2 outings in this series, with the Canes averaging just 1.5 goals per game. The Panthers have been slightly better, although they have scored just 3 total regulation goals and 2 in overtime. Look for another low-scoring affair in Sunrise.
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